The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-25
CANARSIES HERO.
Money and Testimonials Showered
Upon Arthur Robinson.
From the NetU York Herald.
Have 90 an, ~ l-.,n,N tl,n,,, fp,. mo

LIO" tue NcW dOfh ficiUtb'
Here, take these and keep them for me-"
Bounding from the steamboat Julia,
which had just arrived from Rockaway,
Arthur Robinson. the colored hero of the
yacht Mystery disaster in Jamaica Bay,
leaped across the dock at Canarsie landing
yesterday afternoon, and running up to
Supt Warner, of the CanaIsie and Rocka-
way Beach railroad, addressed him thus and
handed him two letters containing teStimo-
niRls
By the way, such things are being almost
showered upon Robinson
HE has swelled heatl, probably" is a
common remark
No, he hasn't,
There is no enlargement of his head and
no evidence of any dilation as result of
the profuSe and continued compliments and
rewards
He is just the same modest, plain man
nered Arthur Robinson now as he was be-
fore he rowed to the rescue of the Mystery S
drowning passengers.
Money, testimonials and medals have
failed to produce vain and boastful feelings
III his honest bosom.
SCORING DIME MUSEUM OFFERS.
Dime museum managers have offered
him fabulous sums for a brief exhibition of
himself
But no gilt-edged offer has yet tempted
him. He does not aspire to even temporary
fame and giittering glory through a dime
museum OF any other source A Rocka-
way Snowman offered him $3.50 for a weeks
engagement: another one S75 for one Sun
day, but Robinson secuted both, and dis
painfully refused to become curiosity.
This CanarSie hero will soon be rich. Sew
eral subscription lists are growing daily.
The Herald has received 500 for him.
President Dewitt C. Littlejohn, of the
Canarsie and Rockaway Beach road, in
sUructed Superintendent Warner to make
Robinson present of S25, and the order
was cheerfully obeyed few days ago.
FLATTERING TESTIMONIALS.
Among the testimonials that Robinson
has received none has been more pleasing
than those contributed by the Life Saving
Benevolent Association of New York, which
comprised check for $50 on the Bank Of
America, silver medal and the following
communication:
LIFE SAVING BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF
New YORK, No. 81 WALL STREET,
New YORK, July 20, 1887
Mr. Arthur Robinson:
DEAR Strive have the pleasure of sending to
you the silver medal, together with check to
your order for $50, awarded by the Life Saving
Benevolent Association of New York.
The medal has the following inscription
Presented to Arthur Robinson in recognition
of his humanity and hcroism in rescung nine
persons from the yacht Mystery, capsized and
sunk in Jamaica Bay July 10, 1857 -"
We are gratified to add that your activity and
ability in saving so many persons from drown
ing are associated and mentioned with the good
qualities which have characterized your everyday
life. These give promise that you will ever be
worthy of the commentator which you now
receive.
We trust that the money will cheer and en-
in, LAIN p,olt hat 10 mo
will belong kept as pleasing memento of the
event it commentaries. Yours very truly,
W. II. H. MOORE, President
On the reverse of the medal is a represen-
tation in relief of a capSiZing yacht and
rescue. The medal was inclosed in a mo-
rocco bound case.
MADE A LIEUTENANT.
Admiral Edwin d. Ayres, of the VOlun-
teer Life Saving Corps, officially informed
Robinson that he had been appointed a
lieutenant in the organization and wrote
this on the back of the document: II take
pleasure in sending you this day token of
our appreciation in part for the noble action
shown by you. Accept this with our best
wishes"
An organization of colored people known
as st. Marks Lyceum, of No. 40 West
Thirty fifth street, sent Carnarsie's hero a
set of complimentary resolutions
MtDlDtIS ,OI d YACHT CIub, WIOSt Iltdl-
quarters are at Canarsie, are raising a
purse of 800 to be presented to Robinson
Other gifts and testimonials are being
prepared. By the time this work of re
warding bravery is over he will be worth
at least several hundred dollars, and
have brave stock of medals and teStimo-
mOnials.
CHAT WITH THE MODEST HERO.
A reporter chatted half an hour with
Robinson last evening III the depot at
Canarsie landing and obtained his history.
The preserver of nine lives wore a cuta-
way suit-the gift of a New York clothier
"a white shirt, checkered necktie and a
straw hat. He is a medium sized man,
weighing not more than $40 pounds
His face is almost inky black. His head
has a stubby growth of curly, woolly hair,
while a slight moustache is visible.
Robinson is remarkably quiet and modest
and rarely talks without first being spoken
to.
"Where were you borne" asked the re-
porter.
Aqua Creek, Va" replied Robinson
tipping back his straw hat.
'How old are you"
81 dunno l don't remember the date of
my birth. | guess I'm about 81"
''Can you read and writes"
"No. | neber got chance to learn. /
was born a slave; my father and mother
were slaves of Morgan Finnell, of Virginia. F"
when did you leave your father and
motherI'
81 think / was about ten years old when
| ran away and got on board a sailing YES
sell wasn't big enough to do anything,
but soon learned how to cook. | have
lived on boats almost ever since, being EN-
ployed as cook / never saw my mother
and father after | left them, and don't
know whether either is living"
did YOU ever save lives before the rescue
in Jamaica Bayp
Eyes, one. My sister and another girl
were on the WarInassett on the Potomac
River. was only boy The boat caught
fire. The girls jumped over board and /
jumped over, too, and saved them both"
''When did you come TO New York;
"About nine years ago"
"And you've followed the art of cooking
on boats ever sinceW
Eyes; I've been working on Captain Joe
Collins coal schooner, plying between Ca
narsie and Perth Amboy, for several years
past"
DIDN'T STOP TO COUNT THEM.
Glow many persons did you rescue from
the Mystery.
Il dunno didn't stop to keep count. l
was trying to save ali could. lam slow in
making up my mind, but when | once get
senses. This is the way it was in the Mys-
tery's disaster. ! saw that help was needed
and didn't wait long before going TO the
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